Sophie Friedman was born in Austria-Hungary in 1878. She graduated Memphis (Tennessee) University of Law, 1922 and became the first woman to practice law in Natchez, Mississippi. She was a member of the Tennessee State Supreme Court, the Federal District Court, and the Circuit Court of Appeals. She was also a state officer of the National Association of Women Lawyers and served as delegate to the State Democratic Convention in 1936. Friedman was a member of the Women's Congress at Memphis, the League of Nations Association for Tennessee, the League of Women Voters, and many other women's legal and civic organizations. She was also involved in international relations, peace, and the welfare of women and children. She sponsored several bills for social legislation in the General Assembly of Tennessee and was active in ratification of Tennessee for Universal Women's Suffrage.